Hampton Inn planned for waterfront

Wednesday

Oct 2, 2013 at 11:26 AM

John Christensen

The same developer who is wrapping up work on upscale apartments at Birkett Landing on Water Street, and has been discussing ideas for development on the former Penn Yan Marine property along the Keuka Outlet is planning to build a Hampton Inn near the former Sarrasin's Restaurant.

At last week's Yates County Planning Board meeting, Chris Iversen requested a Site Plan Review for his property on the corner of Lake and Mace Streets to construct a 15,520 sq. ft. hotel, and a Subdivision Review to divide the 8.5 acre lot into three parcels, one of which includes the former Sarrasin's Restaurant.

Ryan Destro of BME Associates explained the planned hotel is to be a Hampton Inn, facing the southwest view of Keuka Lake, and accessed via two driveways on Mace Street. The main parking area will lie between the hotel and Mace and connect with the existing restaurant parking lot.

Given that proximity, the hotel will not have an integrated restaurant of its own. Iversen intends to sell the vacant restaurant, and is currently in negotiations with an interested buyer with whom he hopes to conclude shortly. The third lot at the corner of Lake and Mace will be developed commercially in the future. According to Destro's report, Penn Yan has plans for future pavement and right of way improvements to Mace. These are included on the proposal plans.

Questions were raised regarding any screening of the nearby warehouses of Knapp & Schlappi Lumber Co. and Firemen's Field which also face onto Mace. Destro explained there would be earth berms and plantings to create a "green buffer" to screen the view and lessen noise. Lighting in the plans was limited to the building and parking areas, but the planning board approved with the stipulation that appropriate lighting of the public paths be included.

The hotel water needs will be served by a combined domestic and fire water service via the existing main on Lake Street or by a new looped public connection on Mace, based on Penn Yan's future development plans. Too low for gravity fed sewer service, a private pump station for the hotel will be used to connect to the village system. Iversen says that if all permits and approval go smoothly, he hopes to begin construction next May, with the hotel beginning operations by May of 2015.

The Hampton Inn Hotel will have 72 rooms or suites on four stories facing Keuka Lake and three facing Mace Street. The lowest floor on the lake side will be a walkout and include an indoor pool. Being so close to Red Jacket Park, no lake swimming area is planned. A stormwater management pond will be constructed near the junction of Keuka Lake and the Outlet. The village will retain a pedestrian easement to connect the waterfront along the marsh and Outlet to Red Jacket Park, and stone dust paths will be installed. Iversen anticipates boat mooring will be accommodated at the restaurant. He also hopes to restore the derelict Ice House Pier, if he can get the necessary approvals from state and local officials.

Hampton Inn Hotels have a required signature "look" according to Iversen, but he believes the site on Keuka Lake will provide individuality for Penn Yan. "We think this is a wonderful project," says Iversen, "and we hope local residents will agree."

All the following applications were approved unanimously unless otherwise noted.

Town of Milo

• Proposed Local Law to regulate junk storage.

• Proposed Local Law to regulate junkyards.

• Proposed Local Law to provide for regulations of materials, location, height and maintenance of fences.